It's probably not news to many that Lynnae has had a struggle with reading. When she finished 2nd grade last year, she was reading at a mid-1st grade level... a little over a year behind where her peers were. So, our house has always been a place of reading for Lynnae. We read every night, (and all day long.) At first, we were doing most of the reading to Lynnae, and she was only doing the minimum that she had to. Over time, she gradually started enjoying reading and wanted to be the one reading to us. We took a reading class this summer that worked on phonics and digraphs. It also gave me the tools to help her with more independent reading, and at some point over the summer she started actually reading to herself without being asked. I could tell that she had made a lot of progress in reading, it was so obvious. We didn't have to sound out every word anymore... she was getting more comfortable with the different vowel sounds... and most importantly, she was having more fun and definitely had more confidence.
I had some natural curiousity at how far all of our summer work had brought Lynnae. I am a room parent for her class this year and have helped the teacher with a few tasks already, one of which was scoring some reading placement tests. I also volunteered to lead a reading group once a week in an effort to bond with Lynnae and show her how much I care about her progress.
My curiousity was killing me. I couldn't wait to find out where she was, so I asked the teacher where Lynnae was placing in reading. The teacher has given three different type of placement tests, and in every one of them Lynnae tested at a THIRD GRADE level! In fact, she is placing about a month ahead of where she should be right now.
To go from 1st grade to 3rd grade level over the course of a summer is outstanding, and more than I had dared to wish for. We are so proud of Lynnae, and all the work that she has put into her reading. Her confidence is really showing, and we can't wait to see where she ends up at the end of this year... she's one intelligent little girl. She has impressed us so much with how quickly she has learned things since she came to live with us!
3 comments:
You guys are doing AWESOME with her. I am sooo proud of all of you!!!! What a HUGE accomplishment, Dzan :)
well, you taught me how to read, and that's essentially all I ever do in life, so you must be good at teaching reading. ;)
Getting her to like reading is the most important thing! -- keep up the good work.
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